Local News

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5070, 5420 and 6040 while brush would be cut on county road 6240. Mobray said rock would continue to be hauled to Dent County Road 5600 as part of the Title II project. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2530, 2540 and 2550 while rock would be added to county roads 2020, 2030 and 2050. Larson went on to say a spreader box would be installed on county truck #116. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles stated he attended the SMDH Community Connect Event Thursday as part of their grant through the Delta Regional Authority to address community and area needs. He said they will be having another meeting in the future after collecting data from those at the meeting. Skiles said Patrick Stites from the MRPC needed to set up a public meeting for the renewal of the Hazard Mitigation Plan. Skiles suggested the date of December 13th and the commission approved. The time and location will be announced at a later time. Commissioner Skiles asked Stan Podorski to serve on the Dent County Law Enforcement Restitution Fund Board of Trustees to fill a vacancy and he accepted. The board is made up of two appointees by the commission, two by the sheriff and one by the coroner. They will be meeting near the end of November. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley stated the election went very smooth with just over 52% of the registered voters casting ballots. She said there were 601 absentee votes cast this year with the new “no-excuse” voting as well as the “excused” absentee voting. Curley said the commissioners will not be meeting on Monday, November 21st due to the Missouri Association of Counties meeting to be held at the Lake of the Ozarks. They will also not be meeting on Thanksgiving Day and the courthouse will be closed on November 24th and 25th. At the last meeting, Commissioner Mobray met with William Terry from the Ozark National Scenic Riverways about the FLAP grant on Dent County Road 6670. Also, Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk reported all tax bills have been mailed out and if you do NOT receive your tax bill by Wednesday, November 16th to please call her office at 729-3911. Also, if you did not update your address before tax bills were sent out, please call or come by the collector’s office in the courthouse. The Commission officially approved awarding the bid for the Cooley Bridge FLAP Project 057 to H. R. Quadri of Van Buren. The next meeting of the commissioners will be Thursday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Office of Broadband Development in partnership with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission and the University of Missouri system are having a regional listening session this Thursday in Rolla at The Centre from 10:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon located at 1200 Holloway Street. The “Connecting All Missourians” program represents an opportunity to connect the unserved and underserved Missourians. The main purpose of the session is to hear from a diverse range of broadband stakeholders including citizens, business owners, libraries, schools, hospital, localgovernments and service providers. Stakeholder input is crucial in the development of future plans. The information collected will shape the development of the broadband infrastructure in Missouri for the foreseeable future. The goal of the campaign is to identify broadband challenges and barriers while identifying resources that can connect all Missourians. There is no charge to attend the session and you can reserve a seat by typing in “Connecting All Missourians” in the search bar of your web browser

State Fire Marshal Tim Bean has the following advice about the use of extension cords and space heaters. Never substitute extension cords for permanent wiring or use them for more than one appliance. Make sure extension cords or power strips are rated for the product to be plugged in. Never cover an extension cord with a rug or carpet; it prevents heat from escaping. Multi-plug devices and power strips are designed to be plugged directly into electrical outlets; they should never be chained together. Space heaters are a factor in about 43 percent of home heating-related fires and 85 percent of associated deaths. They should only be placed on the floor. Never leave a space heater on when you leave a room. Only plug space heaters directly into wall outlets. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from all heating equipment, including drapes, furniture, and electronics. Also remember the effect space heaters will have on your utility bills. For example, the normal space heater uses 1,500 watts and that is about an additional $4.80 per day on your electric bill if left on all day, or around $11.20 additional per week to your bill if the space heater is left on eight hours per day for five days a week. In lieu of using a space heater, try wearing layers of clothes or wrap up in a blanket to provide additional warmth.

An accident happened in Dent County Thursday evening at 6:35 on Route U about a mile and half west of Highway 68. According to the highway patrol report, 70-year-old Karen Clancy of St. James, was driving a 2003 Ford Windstar driven westbound when she failed to negotiate a curve causing the Windstar to go off the right side of the roadway. The Ford struck a ditch and then a utility pole before coming to rest. Clancy suffered minor injuries and was taken by the Salem Memorial EMS to the Salem Memorial District Hospital. Clancy was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ford Windstar had moderate damage and was removed from the scene by a private conveyance.

An accident occurred Friday afternoon in Crawford County on the south service road west of Baldwin Road. According to the highway patrol report a 2019 Chevrolet Spark driven by 30-year-old Ian Montgomery of Bourbon, was traveling eastbound and traveled off the right side of the roadway, striking a tree and an embankment. Montgomery suffered moderate injuries and was transported by North Crawford Ambulance to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan. He was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Patriot Towing in Sullivan.

The Salvation Army Dent County Service Unit will soon begin raising funds with the familiar red kettle at Christmas time. The famous red kettle will be located at Country Mart and Wal-Mart starting the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and then every Friday and Saturday until Christmas Eve with volunteer bell ringers from numerous organizations and businesses. Counter kettles will be located at various locations throughout the community. The kettles are the primary way that funds are raised to continue to meet the needs of the less fortunate in our community. Volunteer bell ringers are always needed each year to help raise these funds. To volunteer to ring the bell at the red kettle, please call Susie at 729-6771 or 247-7099 or The Salvation Army office at 729-8163. Also, the Salvation Army will once again partner with Wal-Mart for the annual Angel Tree program. Local residents have always enjoyed adopting a child, and shopping for clothing, coats, hats, and toys. Some families use this time of year to teach their children the importance of giving during the holiday season. The Angel Tree will be available starting Saturday, November 18th with the final date to adopt an angel being Saturday, December 17th. Sign-ups for families wanting to participate in the Angel Tree will be held Monday, November 21st and Monday, November 28th from 3:30 to 5:30 in the afternoon at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. The Salvation Army Dent County Service Unit office hours are Monday thru Friday 9:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon in the Salem Community Center @ the Armorylocated at 1200 W. Rolla Road in Salem. For additional information, please call Sherry Lea at 573-729-8163 or send her an e-mail at sherry@salemcommunitycenter.org.

Do you have nature lovers on your holiday gift list? The Missouri Department of Conservation’s online Nature Shop makes holiday shopping a breeze for anyone interested in nature-themed gifts. Offerings include the ever-popular Natural Events Calendar, plus a variety of books and more for all ages. Holiday shoppers can also skip retail stores and visit one of the MDC nature centers around the state. Holiday gift offerings include a 2023 Natural Events Calendar. This annual favorite has 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. New for this year is a Coneflower Nature Journal that includes simple tips to get you started drawing or writing about nature. It is spiral bound with plenty of blank pages. Cooking Wild in Missouri is favorite cookbook features more than 100 recipes for native game, fish, fruits, nuts, and mushrooms. Another new offering is Strange but True which was adapted from the pages of MDC’s Xplor magazine and features 350 weird and wild facts and illustrations about creatures that inhabit Missouri. A Paddlers Guide to Missouri makes a great gift for canoeists, kayakers, and floaters with color photos, maps, and descriptions of 58 rivers and streams. Owl & Nuthatches Notecard Sets is another new offering that’s great for gift giving. Each set includes 12 cards of either a barred owl or brown-headed pair of nuthatch birds. Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms is a great guide for hunting, identifying, and cooking the state’s most common mushrooms. The second edition of Discover Missouri Natural Area is a handy reference helps nature lovers experience 50 great examples of our state’s natural heritage. The new edition features updated maps, text, references, and scientific names. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri, Third Edition is a classic book that has been updated and expanded to a 522-page illustrated guide that provides descriptions, distribution, habitats, habits, breeding, and other information on nearly 130 species of native salamanders, toads, frogs, turtles, lizards, and snakes. Buy these and other items at MDC nature centers, through the MDC online Nature Shop at mdcnatureshop.com or by calling 877-521-8632.

The Board of Aldermen met in closed session pursuant to RSMo.610.021(3) on Tuesday and voted unanimously to terminate assistant city clerk Erica Sheppard’s employment with the city effective immediately.

Today is Veteran’s Day and all federal, state, county and city governmental offices will be closed. All the banks, the post office, the license bureau, etc will also be closed. Certain retailers may also be closed and you contact them before heading on to their location to make sure they are open.

With the most popular portion of firearms deer season opening Saturday, the Missouri Department of Conservation reminds non-hunters to practice safety measures when afield during hunting seasons. MDC offers these safety tips for non-hunters: Wear bright clothing to be more visible, such as a bright orange hat, jacket, or pack. Place a bright orange vest or bandana on the canines who join you and keep them leashed. Avoid earth-toned or animal-colored clothing such as tan and brown and be aware that hunters are often most active during the early morning and late afternoon, when game animals are most active. Be especially aware of your own visibility during these times when light is dim. Stay on designated trails. Trails are designed to improve the safety of public users and to protect sensitive habitats. Enjoying recreational activities only on designated trails will reduce the likelihood of entering hunting areas. Whenever venturing into the outdoors, let someone know where you are going and when to expect your return. Make yourself known. If you hear shooting, raise your voice, and let hunters know you are in the area. Be courteous. Once a hunter is aware of your presence, don’t make unnecessary noise to disturb wildlife. Identify hunting seasons and lands open to hunting. Learn where and when hunting is taking place. Plan your recreation activities based on this information. Find information on Missouri hunting seasons at mo.gov/hunting-trapping. Find conservation areas that allow hunting and those that do not by using the MDC Places to Go web feature at mo.gov.

Town and Country Bank was honored as the 2022 Lender of the Year by the Meramec Regional Development Corporation (MRDC) for its partnership efforts to bring jobs and private investment to the Meramec Region. Clifton Parker, manager of information systems; Brandon Licklider, St. James branch manager; Sheldon Shaver, chief lending officer and Kyle Hofstetter, Bourbon branch manager accepted the award on behalf of the bank. Dalton Nilges, president of MRDC, made the presentations at Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s (MRPC) Annual Dinner Oct. 13 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Vienna. MRDC was able to collaborate with Town and Country Bank to help Frank and Lisa Barnitz to get the Rolla Farmers Exchange a working capital loan funded through MRPC’s Revolving Loan Fund. The project will create up to 12 jobs in two years. Town and Country Bank was purchased by the Gott family in 1993 and are the current owners. Roger Gott is the president and chairman of the board. Town and Country Bank provides a variety of lending services for personal, business, including agricultural lending, consumer loans and lines of credit. In addition, the bank offers insurance and investment services to its customers. Town and Country Bank is a gold level associate member of MRPC. MRDC, an SBA Certified Development Company, partners with local banks to provide gap financing with the SBA 504 program. MRDC also serves as a loan review board for MRPC – owned revolving loan funds. MRPC provides the staffing for MRDC. For more information on MRPC’s small business loans program, feel free to contact Maria Bancroft at 573-265-2993 ext. 114 or at e-mail mbancroft@meramecregion.org.

An accident happened Wednesday morning just after 9:20 in Dent County on Route JJ about a mile north of Highway 19. The report from the highway patrol states that a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu being driven north by 41-year-old Brooke Bettigrew of Salem, swerved to miss a deer in the roadway. This caused the vehicle to travel off the right side of the road and strike a tree. Bettigrew suffered minor injuries and was taken by Salem ambulance to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for treatment. The Chevrolet sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by American Automotive and Towing. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and the Dent County Fire Department.

The Salem R-80 High School will be holding a special assembly on Veteran’s Day to honor our local veterans. The school will serve the veterans breakfast in the high school cafeteria starting at 8:15. The students will begin assembling in the gym at 8:30, and then the school plans to have the veterans enter the gym around 8:45 and take their place in special seats. High School Principal Dr. Tori Snitker will welcome them. Everyone will say the “Pledge of Allegiance” before the Salem High School Chamber Singers sing the National Anthem. The high school will have a former veteran who will be their guest speaker give a short 10 to 15-minute speech. The high school band will play a patriotic number followed by a slide show prepared by the yearbook staff. The assembly will close with one of Salem’s own teachers playing Jimmy Hendrix’s National Anthem on his electric guitar at which time our Student Council members will pass out some cards and thank you notes to the veterans in attendance. The whole assembly is expected to last 50-60 minutes. Veterans can park on the top of the circle drive in the bus lanes and enter in the front doors to the lobby in front of the gym or they can enter the main office doors to the high school which have a ramp if they are handicapped. If anyone has any questions, please call the Salem high School at 729-6641.

The City of Salem Utility Committee met Wednesday evening at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. At the meeting, Mayor Greg Parker wanted to clarify the issue brought up at a previous meeting that the city is not really recycling and is just disposing of the items collected for recycling in landfills. Parker said drivers will not pickup someone’s recycling from their bin if they have items that Waste Corporation of America says they can’t recycle such as Styrofoam, plastic wrap, glass bottles, etc. You have to collect the items they can accept in your recycling bin and that list is on the city of Salem website at salemmo.com, go to utilities and click on the recycling schedule. If you are putting in items that are acceptable and the recycling bin is not being picked up. contact WCA at 1-417-741-7714 or leave a message for Mayor Parker at city hall and he will get back with you. He also said WCA is one of the few companies which has cameras that shows every stop they make for trash and recycling, and they can see if your trash or recycling was missed if you call. Public Works Director Mark Nash reported main water breaks have slowed down and small water leaks are being addressed when possible. He said there are some electrical connections that need to be rewired and not much work was done on the roads this year due to the high price of oil and the lack of companies doing asphalting or chip and seal work this summer. Nash said workers are still putting in setters for the new water meters, but not many have been done due to the numerous leaks in the water system. Committee John Hambacker proposed the committee look at restructuring the service availability charge rates for water by the size of the meter and feed line to adequately charge at the next meeting and not just have a one fee fits all size meters. The rest of the committee approved the request. The next meeting will be December 14th at 6:15. The meeting was then adjourned.

The City of Salem Community Service Committee will hold a meeting today at 5:30 at the Salem Community Center@The Armory at 1200 West Rolla Road. At the meeting, the committee will be discussing the 2022 fireworks display and discussing ideas for different projects. The meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening at the Salem Community Center@the Armory. At the meeting, the board approved paying the invoice from the Dent County Extension for $5,800 to support 4-H and youth programs for the 2023 year. The board approved Mayor Greg Parker’s committee appointments of Bernie Sirois and David Weiss for the Finance Committee and Kristi Bermudez for the Park and Recreation Board. After the consent agenda was approved, the Board approved Bill #$3529 to accept the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission Amendment #3 to the state block grant agreement that allowed the city to be reimbursed an additional $3,038.82 for work on the taxi-lanes at the Salem Airport. The board tabled Resolutions #37-2022 and 38-2022 regarding change orders on the “Welcome Home” Grant Program due to Alderman Kyle Williams not being in attendance and Alderwoman Kala Sisco abstained from voting as she works at Riverways Federal Credit Union. The board approved Resolution 39-2022 to continue to take samples for the purpose of sewer shed disease trend monitoring until June 27, 2023 and being reimbursed $100 per sample. This mayor will sign this agreement between the city and the Department of Health and Senior Services. The board also approved Resolution 40-2022 that allows the mayor to sign an application with the Missouri Department of Transportation to construct six T-hangers at the Salem Airport. Temporary City Administrator Sally Burbridge talked about the airport and representatives from Lochner Engineering were in attendance to explain the work to be done on the hangers. Also discussed from Mayor Greg Parker was a number of events saluting Veteran’s Day including events from SBU, the Salem High School and Town Screen. Public Works Director Mark Nash said the city is waiting on road salt but the shed and the new roof are ready. Work crews are working on equipment getting it ready for winter while other crews are repairing potholes. Nash said the fuel tank cleaning at the airport is expected to be done today and once completed, the city can look to get fuel and then the new card reader can be installed. Salem Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois said signups for the Youth Basketball and Cheerleading program continue to November 16th and 70 children have already signed up. The “Light Up The Park” event will be held again this year at the Salem City Park and if a group, business or organization would like to have a display, contact Dubois at salemparks@salemmo.com. She also said the bathrooms at Al Brown and the Salem City Park will be closing for the season Thursday afternoon and will remain closed until spring. Aldermen Shawn Bolerjack mentioned the city offices would be closed on Friday for Veteran’s Day. The board then went into closed session.

A General Election was held Tuesday nationally to determine a number of state and national offices as well as number of county offices. In Dent County, 5,083 ballots were cast which comes to 52.89% of registered voters cast their ballot. There were no locally contested races for Dent County as all races were decided in the Primary Election in August. Re-elected to their offices were Darrell Skiles as Dent County Presiding Commissioner, Angie Curley as Dent County Clerk, Cindy Edwards Ard as the Dent County Recorder of Deeds, Denita Williams as the Dent County Treasurer, Andrew M. Curley as the Dent County Prosecuting Attorney and Shannon VanKirk as the Dent County Collector. Also elected for the first time was Kristi (Morton) Craig as the Dent County Circuit Clerk taking over for Becky Swiney who retired. There were some races classified as state offices that were also uncontested and they were Ron Copeland as the State Representative for the 120th District and Associate Circuit Judge Nathan T. Kelsaw.

All results are unofficial. * Denotes winner

US Representative District 8
(All precincts reported)

Jason Smith* (Rep) 186,259 votes
Randi McCallian (Dem) 53,661 votes
Jim Higgins (Lib) 5,175 votes

State Senator District 16
(All precincts reported)

Justin Dan Brown* (Rep) 39,047 votes
Tara Anura (Dem) 9,341 votes

The Dent County Commission met Monday morning at the courthouse. At the meeting, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported sales tax revenues received in November which were skewed in the comparison from last year when the Department of Revenue had to pay back sales taxes they withheld in October by mistake. In the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund, the county received this month $83,818.12 and that is $61,239.22 less than in 2021. Year-to-date, those funds are up $340,707.40. In the County Road and Bridge Fund, sales tax revenues received were $39,032.64 and that is down $31,196.29 from the $70,228.93 figure from 2021. Year-to-date, that fund is up 54% at $168,254.75. The jail trust and operating funds both received $78,062.82 in November and that is $27,040.54 less than the money received in 2021. Year-to-date, each jail fund is up $335,099.14. Dent County and Salem Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge gave her report to the commission showing little economic change in October. She did say she mailed off copies of the paid checks to Godi Excavating to the state to prove work at the Certified Site in the Industrial Park has been completed and is waiting on them to get back with her if there is anything else needed. She did say she got with the county surveyor and found the sign at the entrance to the Industrial Park is not on MoDOT right-of-way and it does not have to be moved. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray said grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2440, 4220, 6440 and 6360 while brush would be cut on county road 6210. Mobray indicated materials were being added to county road 5600 as part of the Title II project, and he said he would be meeting with Ozark National Scenic Riverways Superintendent Jason Lott about some projects they would like to do near the Current River. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 2030 while only grading would be done on county roads 2110, 3350, 3360, 3370 and 4020. He said brush would be cut on county road 2330 and a downed tree would be removed from county road 6160. He said a man would be going to Springfield for oil for chip and seal repair which will be done on county roads 2240 and 2250. He also said he was meeting with representatives from the Mark Twain National Forest on county road 4330 to discuss their blocking off spaces used for camping for many years. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said there would be a meeting Wednesday at 2:00 at the courthouse with Corky Stack and the contractor, Alexander Construction out of Rolla, to discuss the work at the courthouse. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said voting will begin at 6:00 this morning and go until 7:00 at your appropriate polling location and please bring a valid photo ID when you vote. If you have questions, call her office at 729-4144. At the last meeting, the commission approved adding Daniel Salyer, Jr. and Marcus Gorman to the Tourism Tax Committee. The next meeting of the commission will be Thursday morning at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

An accident happened Sunday afternoon at 3:06 in Phelps County in the eastbound lane of I-44 at the 197.2-mile marker that took the life of a man from Bourbon. According to the highway patrol report, a 2015 Volvo VNL was stopped for heavy traffic when a 2008 Saturn Outlook driven by 50-year-old James Hendricks of Bourbon, struck the back side of the Volvo. Hendricks was pronounced dead at the scene by Phelps County Coroner Ernie Coverdale. His body was taken to the Rolla Crematorium by the Phelps County Coroner. Hendricks was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Saturn sustained extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing. The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the St. James Fire Department.

A fatal accident occurred Saturday afternoon around 12:25 in Dent County on Highway 19 approximately four miles north of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, a 2014 Chevrolet Suburban driven by 58-year-old Vickie Frits of Salem, was traveling northbound and slowed to make a turn and was struck from behind by a 2005 Kawaski Vulcan driven by 60-year-old Dennis Pewitt of Salem, who was also traveling northbound. On impact, Pewitt was ejected and struck by a 2001 Jeep Cherokee driven by 23-year-old Robert White of Salem, who was travelling southbound. Pewitt was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:58 by Coroner Ben Pursifull. His body was transported to the Wilson Mortuary by Pursifull. Pewitt was wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident. The Kawasaki sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Whitaker’s Towing. The Jeep and the Chevrolet sustained minor damage and were driven from the scene. The Highway Patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and the Dent County Fire Department.

A fatal accident occurred on Saturday afternoon around 2:38 in Phelps County on Highway 63 just south of Phelps County Road 5030. According to the highway patrol report, a 2015 Honda Accord driven by 65-year-old David Dorrough of Rolla, was travelling northbound when he crossed the center line and struck the trailer of a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 47-year-old Nathanial Brown of Newburg, who was travelling southbound. The Honda then struck a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado being driven by 21-year-old Wyatt Varner of Rolla, who was travelling southbound. Dorrough was pronounced dead at Phelps Health in Rolla at 3:20 in Saturday afternoon. Varner suffered serious injuries and was flown by Arch 6 to the University Hospital in Columbia. A passenger in the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado, 20-year-old Pepper Morrison of Newburg, suffered serious injuries and was flown by Air Evac 18 to the University Hospital in Columbia. Dorrough and the two injured from the Silverado were all wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident. The Honda and 2005 Chevrolet were totaled. The Honda was removed from the scene by D&D Towing and the 2005 Chevrolet by Ron Dishman’s Towing. The 2003 Chevy Silverado was driven from the scene. The Highway patrol was assisted by the Rolla Police Department and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office.

An accident occurred Saturday afternoon around 1:58 in Phelps County on Highway 68 just east of County Road 3500. According to the highway patrol report a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by 35-year-old Christy Atkinson of Salem was traveling westbound, crossed the center line, overcorrected, travelled off the right side of the roadway, and struck a culvert. Atkinson suffered minor injuries and was transported to Phelps Health by St. James EMS. The report goes on to say she was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Chevrolet sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by C&C Towing.

Representatives from Missouri State Parks recognize and thank all veterans and active-duty military members for their service by offering two promotions in honor of Veterans Day. To show appreciation, all veterans and active-duty military members camping at a Missouri State Parks campground on Friday, November 11th, will receive a voucher for a free night of camping. The veteran must be staying the night of Friday, November 11th, and show identification of veteran/active-duty military status at check-in to receive a free camping coupon. Missouri State Parks will accept several types of identification. Veterans and active military members are also invited on free tours of Missouri state historic sites Friday, November 11th, through Sunday, November 13th, with valid identification. In addition, Missouri State Parks offers a $2-per-night camping discount year-round at state park campgrounds for military members and veterans. Nightly camping rates vary from campground to campground, based on different criteria. Veteran and active-duty military personnel, as well as family members of active-duty military personnel – all of whom must show the proper valid military identification at time of check-in–will receive the military discount. For more information, visit mostateparks.com. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2460, 5440, 6360 and 6370. He also said a work crew will be helping District 2 with their dump truck. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported crews from his district as well as those from District 1 would be going to Rolla to get asphalt for the paving of Dent County Road 3010 that turns into a Phelps County Road. The commission agreed to help pay for the asphalting of this project and then sign the maintenance of asphalted road over to Phelps County. Larson went on to report grading would be done on county roads 2320, 2330, 4020 and 4030 while brush would be cut on county road 2330. Larson also said a work crew would be cleaning the debris out from some bridges in the district. Larson wanted to let the public know that when grading occurs at this time of year when leaves cover the road that it will leave wind rows on the road with the leaves with a little gravel mixed in. Over time this will be corrected but it could occur on some roads, and he just wanted the public to be aware of this in case they run across the wind rows while driving. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that a contractors meeting will be held next week on Wednesday Afternoon with Corky Stack and contractors to discuss the Dent County Courthouse Project. He wanted to make sure the commissioners were aware of the meeting. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley wanted to remind the public her office will be open for excused and non-excused absentee voting this Saturday from 8:00 in the morning until noon. She also said absentee voting of both types will be held on Monday from 8:00 until 5:00 in the afternoon at the courthouse. If you are voting, you MUST bring a photo ID with you. The commissioners then agreed to put out for bid for their insurance coverage for autos, errors and omissions, as well as general liability insurance that will be due back in the county clerk’s office at 10:00 on Thursday, December 15th. 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.

The Dent County Protection Fire District Board of Directors met Tuesday evening. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the board approved the minutes from the October meeting before hearing the financial report which showed an ending balance of $47,368.56 as of October 31st. Bills, payments, statements and the budget were reviewed before the calendar review. The monthly reimbursement report was presented with a total of 16 calls for the month of October bringing the year-to-date number of calls to 212. Calls in October included one structure fire, two brush fires, five first responder calls, three mutual aid calls, one fire alarm, two training calls, plus the department responded to one car accident and conducted one search and rescue. Old business included the distribution of by-law amendment packets with changes and updates to all board members for their review. In new business, it was reported that there is a need for insulation in the attic of the new room and it will cost around $1,300 to complete. A motion was made, and approval was given to go ahead with the insulating of the attic. Fire Chief Brad Nash gave his report to the board on the building project. He said they are waiting on the electrician to complete the project but work at the station will be slow the next week or so until all the election voting is complete. Nash also stated they are waiting for locks for the new doors, and work in the dispatch area is still in progress including the need for paint and other small finishing details. Chief Nash said he is still in contact with the asphalt company to blacktop the parking lot but that will not happen now until spring. He also discussed the landscaping out front and asked for ideas from the board. It was decided to put in decorative rock to cut the maintenance cost and upkeep. Before adjourning, the board then set the date for the next meeting for December 13th at 6:00 at the fire station located at #2 South Main Street. The meeting will be open to the public.

An accident happened Wednesday evening just before 6:45 in Howell County on County Road 3100 about a mile and a half east of Mountain View. According to the report released by the highway patrol, a 2003 Dodge Ram being driven by 38-year-old Chad Andrews of Licking, was being pursued by the Mountain View police department when he traveled off the roadway and struck a fence. The Dodge then became airborne, striking a large brush pile before coming to a stop. Andrews, who was wearing a seat restraint, was taken to Mercy St. Francis in Mountain View by Mercy ambulance for treatment of minor injuries. The Dodge sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Bakers Towing in Birch Tree.

There is still time to register for the Heroes Marathon event which will be held Saturday, November 19th. There are openings for the full marathon of 26.2 miles, the half marathon of 13.1 miles, and the marathon relay where a team of four will run established legs of the marathon. For those who don’t want to run that far or those just starting out, you can run a 10K or 5K run starting from and finishing at the Lions Club in Rolla. A new addition this year is the half mile Honor Walk from noon until 2:00 at the Lions Club Park. The three goals of the Heroes Marathon are to honor and benefit the area veterans, promote health and boost the beauty of our area for those who have never been to this part of Missouri. Since the first marathon in 2016, the Heroes Marathon has donated over $100,000 to local veteran causes. For those participating, the Heroes Marathon includes a free pasta party and expo on Friday evening, November 18th, at the Salem Community Center@The Armory with inspiring speakers. There are numerous water stations located along the route that include food, snacks and encouragement the day of the marathon. Marathoners and half-marathoners will be bussed from the Lions Club Park to their respective starting points at The Commons in Salem or to Lake Spring. Everyone will finish at the Rolla Lions Club Park. Right now, those who want to run the marathon can register for $95, half-marathoners can register for $75, marathon relay participants can register for $210 for their team, those who want to run the 10K can register for $55 and if you want to run the 5K, the cost for that run is $40. You can register the final week before the marathon from November 14th to the 18th for any of the events for an additional $5 to these quoted prices, but absolutely no registrations will be accepted the day of the marathon on November 19th. Volunteers are also needed if you would like to be a part of the event. To register or to volunteer, visit www.heroesmarathon.com or call or text 573-247-3005.

An accident happened Tuesday morning at 8:15 in Maries County on Highway 63 at Route FF. According to the highway patrol report, a 2022 Freightliner driven southbound by 56-year-old William Drew of St. James, struck a deer that went over the hood and through the windshield striking the driver. Drew suffered minor injuries and was taken by the Osage Ambulance to Phelps Health. The Freightliner sustained moderate damages and was towed from the scene by I-44 Trucking. Drew was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident.

An accident happened in Phelps County Tuesday afternoon at 5:04 on Phelps County Road 7240 about five miles south of Rolla. According to the highway patrol report, a 2009 Nissan Titan driven eastbound by 37-year-old Evan Thompson of Rolla, went off the north side of the roadway, stuck a tree and overturned. Thompson suffered moderate injuries and was taken by the Phelps Health Ambulance to Phelps Health. He was not wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Nissan sustained moderate damages and was removed from the scene by Ron Dishman’s Towing. The highway patrol was assisted by the Rolla Rural Fire Department and Phelps Health Ambulance.

The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s office recommends Missouri families invest the extra time gained this weekend as we “fall back” to Central Standard Time to take several simple steps to keep their families safe during autumn and winter. This Sunday morning at 2:00, clocks “fall back” one hour as daylight saving time ends. Having working smoke alarms in your home is one of the simplest and most important steps you can take to increase your family’s safety. The majority of home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. This is why Missourians should test their smoke alarms and change the batteries when they move their clocks back each fall. The United States Fire Administration says the risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms, plus one-half of home fire deaths occur between 11 PM and 7 AM when most people are asleep. Smoke Alarms should be tested monthly and replaced once they’re 10 years old. Each member of the household should know two ways out of each room. Make sure escape routes are clear of debris and windows can open easily. Designate an outdoor meeting place for the family. Regularly practice escape routes with all members of the family.

The Salem Creative Arts Center located at 204 South Main St in Salem will be offering a Seasonal Transfers Class Saturday morning from 10:00 until noon. Participants can choose between two project options. The first is mini breadboard or lantern and that cost is $25. The second option is a glass jar or glass decoupage and transfer and the cost for this option is $15. A minimum of six students is needed to hold the class. This class is for participants ten years of age and above. Walk-ins welcome, but pre-registration is appreciated to be sure enough supplies will be available The Creative Arts Center has two easy ways to sign up for events! You can call or text 247-0651 or go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that hunters checked 1,846 turkeys during Missouri’s fall firearms turkey season from October 1st through the 31st. Top harvest counties were Franklin with 70 birds harvested, Gasconade with 52, and Laclede with 50. Hunters harvested 1,836 during the 2021 fall firearms turkey season. County totals in the area was 48 turkeys being harvested in Dent County, 43 birds in Crawford County, 30 turkeys in Phelps County, 12 birds in Shannon County, 32 turkeys in Texas County, eight birds in Reynolds County and five turkeys in Iron County. The Fall archery turkey hunting continues through November 11th and will resume November 23rd and go through January 15th, 2023. Get more information about fall turkey hunting at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey. The department of Conservation is also reminding Missouri turkey hunters to save and submit feathers from birds they harvest this fall for a research project that will improve the department’s ability to estimate turkey abundance across Missouri. Interested hunters are asked to retain a wing and 3-5 feathers from the breast after Telechecking their turkey. They will then be mailed a feather submission packet, including a postage-paid return envelope to submit feathers at no cost. To receive a feather submission packet, you can register at mdc.mo.gov/turkeyfeathers.

The Salem R-80 High School will be holding a special assembly on Veteran’s Day, November 11th, to honor our local veterans. The school will serve the veterans breakfast in the high school cafeteria starting at 8:15. The students will begin assembling in the gym at 8:30, and then the school plans to have the veterans enter the gym around 8:45 and take their place in special seats. High School Principal Dr. Tori Snitker will welcome them. Everyone will say the “Pledge of Allegiance” before the Salem High School Chamber Singers sing the National Anthem. The high school will have a former veteran who will be their guest speaker give a short 10 to 15-minute speech. The high school band will play a patriotic number followed by a slide show prepared by the yearbook staff. The assembly will close with one of Salem’s own teachers playing Jimmy Hendrix’s National Anthem on his electric guitar at which time our Student Council members will pass out some cards and thank you notes to the veterans in attendance. The whole assembly is expected to last 50-60 minutes. Veterans can park on the top of the circle drive in the bus lanes and enter in the front doors to the lobby in front of the gym or they can enter the main office doors to the high school which have a ramp if they are handicapped. If anyone has any questions, please call the Salem high School at 729-6641.

Do you want to see Missouri’s beautiful state parks from a new perspective? Join the Learn2 Climb program and learn the basics of outdoor rock-climbing, including safety and techniques, from a certified instructor, and then try it out on real rock. This beginner-level course will allow you to enjoy nature from new heights! From 9:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon this Saturday, November 5th and Sunday, November 6th, Missouri State Parks is introducing its very first beginner-friendly introductory rock-climbing program at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. This opportunity allows participants to try a new activity while experiencing some of Missouri’s vertical attractions. All equipment (harness, helmet and climbing shoes) and expertise is provided; participants need to provide the enthusiasm and eagerness to discover nature and a new skill. They should wear appropriate clothing and footwear for hiking and rock climbing activities and bring a packed lunch and enough water for the day. This program is free, preregistration is required. Participants must be at least 10 years of age, and children ages 10-14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the entire program. Parents or guardians are not required to climb. To register, visit icampmo.com and enter “Learn2” in the search box. This program is made possible by the Bronco Wild Fund, whose mission is to support agencies and organizations that are devoted to the great outdoors. Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park is located at 148 Taum Sauk Trail in Middle Brook. For more information, contact 573-546-2450. For more information on Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

To manage the deer population safely and effectively in some state parks, managed hunts are held in a coordinated effort between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks and the Missouri Department of Conservation. For everyone’s safety in the area, the Montauk State Park will be temporarily closed November 5th and 6th, and the Mark Twain State Park will be closed November 5th and 6th and again on December 10th and 11th. Before heading to a Missouri state park, be sure to check the Park and Site Status Map at mostateparks.com for any temporary closures that may impact your visit. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.