Local News

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams reported to the commission the amount of sales tax funds received by the state this month. For the General Revenue Fund and Law Enforcement Sales Tax Fund, the county received $99,016.85 for each fund and that is down $13,445.50 from last year’s figure of $112,462.35. For the Road and Bridge Fund, the county received $47,551.25 and that is down $6,853.13 from last year’s receipt of $54,404.38. The Jail Trust Fund and Operating Funds each received $95,107.93 and that was down $13,704.05 from the 2020 figure of $108,811.98. Williams said she hadn’t heard back from the Department of Revenue when she asked them why the sales tax for General Revenue and the LEST Fund from July was much higher than for the jail funds and the Road and Bridge Fund. In the road report, 1st District Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading was going to be done on Dent County Road 5610 and that materials would be added to county road 4210 where the low water bridge work is being done. Mobray went on to say the bridge would be closed another three weeks before it will be open to traffic. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 3350 while brush would be cut on county road 3305. He said major service was being done on grader #31 and the #9 tractor used for brush cutting was having new runners and blades installed. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he attended the MRPC External Relations Committee meeting via phone conference. He wanted to remind everyone that the MRPC Annual Volunteer Awards Dinner would be held on October 21st at State Technical College of Missouri at Linn. He said he nominated Joe Brand for all the volunteer work he has done to receive an award. He also said at the regular MRPC meeting that they will have a meeting with Attorney Travis Elliott around the end of the month to discuss what can be done with the ARPA funds the county has received. Skiles indicated he would be at the MRPC offices today along with the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Executive Board to review and grade the applications for grants for recycling and the reduction of waste in landfills. He will also attend the Economic Development meeting at Echo Bluff tonight at 6:00, which was organized by Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported on the annual County Clerk Election Authority meeting held last week. This meeting qualifies for the 20 hours of mandatory requirements for her position as county clerk. She was also elected chairman of the South-Central County Clerk’s Region that covers 13 counties. 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 City of Salem Board of Aldermen will be meeting tonight at 6:00 at the City Hall Council Chambers at 200 North Washington. At the meeting, the aldermen will hear from the Heartland Metal Finishing Management Team as they want to discuss the pretreatment program key elements along with effluent limits, sampling location and more. Following the consent agenda, the board will hear bids for ultra-violet lights for the Waste Water Treatment Facility. They will then discuss Bill #3489 which would create an ordinance to establish a procedure to dispose of potential conflicts of interest for certain municipal officials, discuss Resolution #27-2021 which is a resolution to execute an agreement between the City of Salem and the Meramec Regional Planning Commission for technical assistance on floodplain management, discuss Bill #3490 that would create an ordinance to establish rates for electric services that would offset the impact of the financial impact of the February 2021 weather event, discuss Resolution #28-2021 authorizing the mayor to execute an employment agreement between the City of Salem and Ray Walden, and discuss an ordinance to authorize the mayor to execute a contract change order between the City of Salem and Nexgrid for electric AMI meters. In the reports of city officials, boards and committees, the alderman will hear the report from City Administrator Ray Walden, Mayor Kim Steelman and Public Works Director Mark Nash. The board will also discuss the LAGERS annual meeting where the board will be appointing an employer delegate to attend the meeting. The board will approve the Fall Clean-up Week will be designated October 11th through the 15th and approve any committee appointments that are made. The board will then go into closed session. The Salem Board of Aldermen meeting tonight will begin at 6:00 and is open to the public.

The Salem Area Arts Council will host a “Taste of the Arts” Expo at the Creative Arts Center this Saturday from 3:00 until 7:00. It will be a small carnival style family fun day complete with small art activities for young and old. There will be live music with Chris Blood and Michael Conners, a sidewalk chalk contest, a children’s table with art activities, screen printing, wheat weaving, quilting, pottery, painting, air brushing concessions and vendors. For more information, contact Danielle Norris at 573-247-5306 or Tana Kettner at 573-247-0651.

The Dent County Fire Protection District board of directors met last Thursday night at 6:00. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the minutes from the August meeting were reviewed and approved as presented. Joe Weber from Weber and Associates was present to discuss the policy and procedures manual and answer any questions from the board. The manual will be reviewed and discussed again at the October meeting. Bills were approved with a balance of 149,180.64 as of August 31st. During the budget review, the board discussed changing the budget back to a line-item budget for the 2022 year and breaking down the budget in more detail. It was recommended that the board put together a finance committee to review and set up a new long-term plan for the department. The board agreed and the committee will be comprised of fire department officers and board members. Dave Greenshields will serve as the board member for the committee. An officer from the department will be assigned at the next officers’ meeting. Treasurer Dave Wells asked the board to close one of the bank accounts that was set up during the fire station renovation as it was no longer being used and has gone dormant. The board agreed but asked Chief Nash to check with the auditor and the USDA to make sure this could be done. Chief Nash discussed with the board about having an audit performed for the department and DCERA. Normally an audit is performed every three years, but due to the construction Chief Nash felt it necessary to have an audit performed to ensure that all finances are being handled correctly. The board agreed and asked for him to set it up. The board reviewed the other budget items before reviewing the calendar. On Thursday, September 16th, the department will be in training and the next night, will be at the Salem High School Football game. Air Evac will be holding training at the department on September 21st and 22nd and again on the 28th and 29th. There was a total of 26 calls during the month of August with a total of 214 calls year to date. It was reported the insurance money has finally come in for Engine 85 where a deer strike damaged the truck. The department is still trying to find someone to repair the truck as it will have to be a company that can repair fire engine trucks. The security cameras at the fire station have been installed and are in operation and the new fire software conversion is still ongoing. In new business, Chief Nash reported computers and gun lockers have been installed in six trucks and are operational for the new emergency reporting software. Also, Panasonic met with the chief to discuss new computers for all the trucks in the future. Panasonic is working with the department to acquire grant money to fund this project. Chief Nash reported to the board that several trucks are having problems including electrical problems on Truck 80, the tele-squirt nozzle and has a check engine light keeps coming on in Ladder Truck #81, and the hose net on the back needs to be repaired or replaced, Engine 82 has had a backup camera installed and Engine 83 has an intake that needs to be repaired or replaced. Several of the trucks are already scheduled for repair or have had the repair parts ordered. In the building report, it was noted that the upstairs floor and equipment room work is still in progress and that the department is working with Rommel Lock and Alarm on a door lock system. The date was set for the next meeting which will be Tuesday, October 5th at 6:00 at the firehouse and will be open to the public. The fire board then went into closed session.

You can go native with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Native trees and shrubs can help improve wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while also improving the appearance and value of private property. The George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes. The nursery provides mainly one-year-old, bare-root seedlings with sizes varying by species. Seedlings varieties include: pine, bald cypress, cottonwood, black walnut, hickory, oak, pecan, persimmon, river birch, maple, willow, sycamore, blackberry, buttonbush, hazelnut, redbud, ninebark, spicebush, elderberry, sumac, wild plum, witch hazel, and others. Seedlings are available in bundles of 10 or increments of 25 per species. Prices range from 34 cents to $1 per seedling. Sales tax of 6.1 percent will be added to orders unless tax exempt. There is an $9 handling charge for each order. You can receive a 15% discount up to $20 off seedling orders with a Heritage Card, Permit Card, or Conservation ID Number. The nursery grows millions of seedlings each year, but some species are very popular and sell out quickly. Even if a species is listed as sold out, customers can still place an order for them. Sometimes orders get cancelled, freeing up inventory. Customers won’t be charged for seedlings unless they are available to ship. Learn more and place orders through MDC’s 2021-2022 Seedling Order Form. Find it in the September issue of the Missouri Conservationist, at MDC regional offices and nature centers, online at mdc.mo.gov or by contacting the State Forest Nursery at 573-674-3229 or StateForestNursery@mdc.mo.gov. Place orders now through April 15, 2022. Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the nursery near Licking from February through May.

The Missouri Department of Conservation now offers a new design option for its Conservation Permit Cards that features target-shooting equipment. The new design is in appreciation of recreational target shooters and the contributions they make to wildlife conservation funding through their purchases of firearms, ammunition, and other items. MDC is offering free Permit Cards to shooting-range users at its five staffed shooting ranges for a limited time. The new Permit-Card design featuring target shooting equipment shows an over/under hinge-action shotgun, a semi-automatic handgun, ammunition, paper targets, and clay targets displayed on a rustic wooden shooting bench. Permit Card buyers can also select from four other design images: a white-tailed buck, smallmouth bass, mallard duck, and eastern bluebird. Permit Cards are another option to MDC’s paper and electronic permits and provide a durable alternative to carrying hunting, fishing, and trapping permits in paper or electronic form while in the field. As new permits are purchased and old ones expire, the updated information is automatically accessible through the one-time-purchase permit cards. Conservation agents can scan users’ cards to verify active permits. A Permit Card costs $2 and does not expire. Purchase a Conservation Permit Card online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, at MDC offices and nature centers, or retail permit vendors. After purchase, the Permit Card it will be mailed to the address on file within four to six weeks. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/permits/conservation-permit-card. Because of permit-notching requirements and Telecheck steps required for deer and turkey hunting permits, Permit Cards cannot be used as a form of permit proof for deer and turkey hunting. Permit Cards cannot be used as proof of daily trout tags at trout parks so anglers will still need to purchase and wear their daily trout tags. Permit Cards cannot be used to show possession of a Federal Duck Stamp so waterfowl hunters must still carry the document verifying the purchase of a Federal Duck Stamp or the actual stamp. Permit Cards do not replace commercial permits and lifetime permits, which must be purchased through the MDC Permit Services Unit by calling 573-751-4115.

A motorcycle accident happened Wednesday evening around 6:45 in Crawford County on Highway at the Steelville High School. The report from the highway patrol says that a 2018 Kawasaki EX650 being operated by 36-year-old April Verble of Cherryville was traveling too fast for conditions when she traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck and embankment, and overturned. Verble suffered minor injuries and chose to seek her own treatment. The Kawasaki had minor damage and was removed from the scene by the owner. The report went on to state that Verble was wearing a safety device at the time of the accident.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released reports from the latter part of August. On Saturday, August 21st, a deputy observed a 24-year-old Salem woman near a residence on North Iron Street. The deputy knew the woman to have an active arrest warrant through Dent County. She was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail and was incarcerated. She was also arrested for possession of a controlled substance except for 35 grams or less of marijuana/synthetic cannabinoid. The next day, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 1000 block of Dent County Road 5070 to serve an arrest warrant. At that time, a 34-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active arrest warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and was incarcerated. On Tuesday, August 24th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 3000 block of West Highway 32. During the course of the stop, a 38-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while being intoxicated. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released to a sober party. On August 26th, a deputy observed a 27-year-old Salem man riding a bicycle on Second Street. The deputy knew the man to have an active arrest warrant through Dent County. The deputy attempted to make contact with the man, but he fled and ignored commands to stop. The deputy caught up to the man on Water Street and he was arrested for the active warrant and resisting arrest by fleeing. He was transported to the Dent County Jail and was incarcerated. The next day, Friday the 27th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on North Highway 19 near the Short Bend Conservation Area. During the traffic stop, a 24-year-old Salem man was arrested for the possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Later that same day, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 2500 block of North Highway 19 to serve an arrest warrant. As a result, a 58-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active arrest warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. And finally on August 30th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block of South Main Street. During the stop, a 34-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having two active arrest warrants through the Dent County Sheriff’s Office. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. Please call the Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The Dent County Fire Protection Board of Directors will be meeting this evening at 6:00 at the fire station at #2 South Main. After the roll call and approval of the consent agenda, the board will review the minutes of the August meeting before hearing the financial report and approving bills. The next item on the agenda will be the calendar review followed by the monthly reimbursement report before addressing any old or new business, followed by various reports. The date will then be set for the October meeting before adjourning. The meeting of the Dent County fire protection district board of directors is open to the public.

An accident happened Monday afternoon just before 5:00 in Phelps County on CR3060 at HyPoint Industrial Park Drive. According to the report from the highway patrol a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado being driven by 52-year-old Susan Cornelius of St. James turned into the path of a 2010 Ford Flex being driven by 59-year-old Lorri Waldron also of St. James. Waldron was taken by EMS to Phelps Health in Rolla for treatment of minor injuries. Both vehicles had moderate damage and were removed from the scene by Spurgeon’s Towing. The report went on to state that both drivers were wearing seat restraints at the time of the accident.

There will be a University of Missouri Grazing School at the MU Wurdack Research Center September 22-24 at Cook Station, Missouri. To enroll or for more information contact Nathan Bilke online at nathan.bilke@usda.gov or call (660) 654-4576 or contact Gatlin Bunton online at buntong@missouri.edu or call (573) 775-2135. There will also be a Grazing School in Houston September 15-17. Call the Texas County Extension Office at (417) 967-4545.

The Dent County Commissioners held a meeting Tuesday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. City of Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director Sally Burbridge was in attendance and presented her monthly report on possible economic development leads including one state lead. Burbridge talked about the voluntary residential demolition program where the owners of the three properties have paid their portions and the demolitions should begin this week. She said she has been talking with communities about getting a sample bid for doing timber clearing in the certified site area as that will have to be done between the months of November and March. She said the “Love Thy Neighbor” program worked on seven houses between August 8th and 12th with three major projects and four smaller ones. She also said $80,000 was secured for next year through the Southcentral Missouri Community Action Agency. Burbridge reported the city submitted an application for the construction trades program for the “Strong Communities Award” from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines on August 27th. The winner will receive $15,000 and $3,000 goes to the runners-up. She also talked with the commissioners about the Dent County July unemployment rate sinking to 3.8% in July from the five percent mark in June. The rate plummeted when the COVID unemployment benefits in Missouri stopped and the Dent County Civilian Work Force dropped by 291 people who either stopped looking for work or became employed. She said there will be a mixer on Tuesday, September 14th from 6:00 until 8:00 at Echo Bluff State Park Lodge to pull individuals and agencies interested in economic development together. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5650 and 6190 while materials would be added and grading done on county road 6040. He also said the bridge work on Dent County Road 4210 is now expected to last a month where the road will be closed. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Road 4020 while only grading would be done on county road 2210. He said brush would be cut on county road 2240 and a man would be doing chip and seal patch repair on county road 3220 where a vehicle caused damage to the road. Larson said a grader is down from last week as they are waiting on a repair person. If they can repair the machine, additional grading will be done. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said he would be attending an External Relations meeting Thursday as well as the MRPC Board meeting in St. James. He also wanted to congratulate the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce for another successful rodeo over the Labor Day holiday. The commissioners agreed to seek bids next week for propane for the courthouse for the winter on a keep filled basis. The bids will be due by 10:00 the morning of September 27th. At the last meeting, the commissioners agreed to a contract with Corky Stack from Stack Engineering on the scope of the exterior work project for the courthouse, his services and putting the needed work out for bid. The contract calls for an 11% fee plus an hourly rate for inspections on the courthouse. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Board of Aldermen will hold a special meeting tonight at 5:45 in closed session to discus personnel and contracts at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. The meeting was called by Mayor Kim Steelman.

Representatives from the Missouri State Parks invite the public to attend an informational meeting at Montauk State Park this Saturday. The meeting will begin at 1:00 in the afternoon at the campground amphitheater. The public is invited to share comments and ask questions about the park and its operations. The representatives from the park will be present to provide information and to answer questions. Input from the public is important to Missouri State Parks. These informational meetings, which are being held in all state parks and historic sites, help create two-way communication with the public. The meetings give staff the opportunity to let people know the current status and future plans for the park or historic site, and they offer visitors the opportunity to comment on the facilities. The public is strongly encouraged to follow social-distancing guidelines and be proactive in protecting themselves and others. Montauk State Park is located 22 miles southwest of Salem on Highway 119 in Dent County. For more information about the event, call the park at 573-548-2201. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors held their tax rate hearing for the year 2021 and fiscal year 2022 Tuesday afternoon at noon via Zoom. Chief Financial Officer Doug Hogan presented the assessed valuations for 2020 and 2021 for real estate and personal property. In 2020, the real property assessed valuation was $189,658,299 and personal property came in at $68,611,997 for a total of $258,270,296. In 2021, the assessed valuation for real estate property was $192,139,394 with personal property valued at $70,357,485 for a total of $262,496,879. These assessed valuations come from all of Dent County and portions of Crawford, Iron and Shannon counties. Last year, the tax rate was at 24 cents per $100 assessed valuation which generated $628,294 for capital projects for the hospital which are comprised of the building and campus, property and equipment. The maximum rate allowed by the state auditor’s office is still 24 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The board approved staying with the maximum rate of 24 cents per $100 assessed valuation for 2021 that will generate $629,992. The hospital approved the resolution that included the tax rate and stipulated the board did not elect to take a voluntary reduction for the 2021 year. The hearing and meeting were then adjourned.

It’s time to saddle up for the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Rodeo this Saturday and Sunday evenings starting at 7:30 each evening at The Commons on Highway 72. The gate opens at 5:00 and the Base Enterprise Carnival will be in the barn starting at 5:00 as well. There will be numerous vendors and a concession stand will be available on the grounds. Each nights’ activities will kick off with the Parade of Sponsors Flags prior to the National Anthem. Those attending will have the opportunity to salute our Veterans by wearing your Red, White and Blue attire. In addition to the traditional rodeo events, you will be treated to the calf scramble for kids 10-years of age and under, Blake Skaggs Mini Buckers and the half-time show featuring The Rawhide and Dusty Show. Tickets in advance are $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for kids ages 5 to 11. Advance ticketsare available at the Salem Chamber/VisitorsCenter, and all local banks including The Bank of Salem, Town & Country Bank-Salem, Progressive Ozark Bank, and Riverways Federal Credit Union at both the Salem and Rolla locations. At the gate admission each night will be $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids 5 to 11. Everyone is encouraged to come out and enjoy the fun and competition.

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to plan for a safe 2021 Labor Day weekend. It’s everyone’s responsibility to travel safely and observe all Missouri road laws. In Missouri, 18 people died and 463 were injured in 1,041 traffic crashes over the 2020 Labor Day holiday. This means one person was killed or injured every 9.7 minutes. Troopers arrested 146 people for driving while intoxicated during last year’s holiday weekend. The 2021 counting period for the Labor Day holiday will be from 6:00 this Friday evening through 11:59 Monday night, September 6th. The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Speed, inattention, and impaired driving are leading causes of traffic crashes. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways and waterways. Troopers on the roadways will be enforcing Missouri’s speed limit, seat belt, and impaired driving laws, in addition to being available to assist motorists. The public is encouraged to call the + or *55 on your cellular phone if they witness criminal activity or experience an emergency.

Missouri State Parks invites the public to begin their archery journey by attending hands-on courses at Echo Bluff State Park. Course will be held September 18th from 2:00 until 4:00, and October 16th from 10:00 until noon.  Participants may register for the August course beginning July 3rd. This program is for anyone who wants to learn the basics of archery and atlatl throwing. The Learn2 Aim courses offer two hours of free instruction and are open to ages 10 and older. Registration is required and all slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Missouri State Parks provides the equipment, including bows, atlatls, targets and expertise, in a safe environment. Participants should bring enthusiasm and a willingness to learn a historical skill. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes. Participants must be at least 10 years of age. Children 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Parents and guardians do not have to participate but must be on hand to provide adult supervision. Participants should be comfortable around bows and atlatls. All Missouri State Park rules and regulations apply. This is a family-oriented event; alcohol and tobacco products are not allowed while participating in the Learn2 Program.

The Salem Police Department has released several reports. On Tuesday afternoon, August 2nd at around 4:30, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of a shoplifter. It was reported that a female subject had stolen approximately $45 worth of merchandise from the store. Contact was made with the suspect and a 25-year-old woman from Salem was arrested and issued a summons for shoplifting. The next day around noon, an officer located a female subject with numerous warrants for her arrest. As a result, a 38-year-old Ellington woman was arrested on eight warrants for her arrest and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. On Saturday morning, the 7th at approximately 6:00, an officer conducted a traffic stop for a license violation. Contact was made with the operator of the vehicle, and it was confirmed the female driver had a revoked driving status. Consent to search the vehicle was obtained and suspected methamphetamine was located. The 41-year-old Salem woman was arrested and incarcerated pending the application of warrants. During the evening of Friday, the 13th near 8:00, an officer was dispatched to the area of Phil Mart for a report of a disturbance. Upon arrival the officer observed one vehicle strike another one and ordered the driver of the vehicle out of the vehicle. During the investigation, it was apparent the driver of the vehicle was intoxicated. As a result, a 33-year-old Salem man was arrested and placed on a 24-hour hold pending the application of warrants at the Dent County Jail. During the early morning hours of Sunday, the 15th around 1:00, an officer contacted a subject he knew to have an active arrest warrant. As a result, a 58-year-old Salem man was arrested on a Phelps County warrant and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail awaiting extradition. Later that same day around noon, an officer was dispatched to the area of Franklin and Water Streets for a report of a suspicious subject. Contact wasmade with the subject in question and upon further investigation it was found she was in possession of Methamphetamine. As a result, a 36-year-old Salem woman was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail. During this time period of August 2nd through the 15th, there were approximately ten reports of property damage and vandalism throughout town at locations that included the Salem City Park and other businesses. Officers and investigators worked through many leads and obtained video surveillance in the crimes and as a result the cases have been resolved and suspects have been identified and questioned. These reports have been sent to the Juvenile Office for further action. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The City of Salem will be doing curbside yard waste pick-up starting Tuesday, September 7th. Items that will be picked up by the city include limbs and branches that are cut to a length of four feet or less, and grass that is bagged in recyclable leaf bags which can be purchased at the city utility office $2.50 for ten bags. The city will pick up yard waste that has been properly bagged, cut, and placed at the edge of the curb or sidewalk. They ask that you do not block the sidewalk or place items in the street. The city of Salem reserves the right to charge for exceptionally large volumes of yard waste or to recommend removal by a private company. Items that will not be picked up include appliances, household trash, tires, electronics, lumber or building materials, furniture, or recyclables. For more information, call the city at 729-4811.

The Missouri Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program that provides benefit vouchers to low-income seniors who are 60-years of age or older is now available in Dent, Crawford and Phelps County through the Mid Missouri Aging Best office. Eligible seniors will receive 10 vouchers with a value of $5.00 each for a total of $50 each year they can be used to purchase fresh, raw, unprepared foods grown in Missouri and that includes fruits, vegetables, honey and cooking herbs. The vouchers may be used now until October 31st or earlier if your local farmer’s market closes before Octobers 31st. You have until September 30th to get your vouchers and they can be used at any Farmer’s Market that is part of the program. The maximum household income to qualify for the program is 185% of the poverty level for a single person with incremental income levels for those with multiple family members. A senior may also qualify if they participate in the SNAP program or Community Supplemental Food Program. Seniors can also name a proxy on their behalf to apply for and purchase foods on their behalf. The program application must be signed by both. For more information about the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program for Dent, Crawford or Phelps County, contact Aging Best at 573-443-5823. The program is also available in Shannon and Texas counties through the Springfield Senior Age Agency on Aging by calling 417-862-0762.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse for their regular meeting. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading would be done on Dent County Road 5630 and spot grading would be done in the Montauk area to fix washouts from the Sunday morning rain. Mobray said a man would be hauling brown rock and a crew would be preparing an area where a bridge on Dent County Road 4210 will be tore out next week. The road will be closed starting Tuesday and is expected to be closed until the bridge is replaced which should be around two weeks. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported grading would be done on county roads 2530, 2540, 2550, 3330 and 3340. He said a crew would be cleaning out ditches on Dent County Road 4330 while materials will be added, brush will be cut, and grading will be done on county road 4260. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles indicated he attended the CCAM meeting at Echo Bluff State Park last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to discuss the commissioner training to be held in February at Columbia. He said the commissioners heard from Representative Ron Copeland that the legislature is considering doing away with the April elections and consolidate all elections until the November General Election. This would create a huge burden on county clerks to get out the number of different ballots that would cover municipal elections, school board elections, bond issues and more in addition to the General Election list of candidates and issues. The costs may become exorbitant. Skiles said county commissioners are not in favor of this and he felt that the clerk’s association would not be in favor of it as well. Skiles reported the courthouse will be closed for Labor Day and the commissioners agreed to meet on Tuesday at 9:00 for their regular meeting. Skiles also wanted to remind everyone to get your tickets for the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Rodeo this Saturday and Sunday at The Commons. Advance tickets are available at all the local banks and the Salem Chamber office and are $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children 5-11 years of age. The cost at the gate Saturday and Sunday will be $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for youngsters from 5 to 11 years of age. The gate opens at 5:00 with a carnival in the barn with the rodeo starting at 7:30 each evening. Bonnie Prigge and Kelly Sink from the MRPC attended the meeting and discussed with the commissioners some information about the ARPA funds that are becoming available. Sink brought in a sample investment proposal form for the ARPA eligible activities that include supporting public health expenditures, addressing negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, replacing lost public sector revenue, providing premium pay for essential workers, and allowing for the investment in sewer, water and broadband infrastructure. This form would document the project submitted for funds. Prigge said the CARES Act funds were for events that were in the past while the ARPA funds are basically looking at events still to come, although some historical data will need to be used. The county talked after adding a much needed bathroom to the courthouse which Sink said would qualify for the funds, and they would also be able to replace some of the income lost due to the sales tax debacle by the Department of Revenue, but that would not occur until next year. The deadline for submission of projects is January 1st, 2023. Any project that would be funded through ARPA must be obligated by December 31st, 2024 and spent by December 31st of 2026. The commissioners also talked with Corky Stack of Stack Design and Consulting Group about improvements to be done to the exterior of the courthouse. Stack and the commissioners signed the agreement for Stack to proceed with work on the project. The next meeting of the county commission will be Tuesday at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital Board of Directors will hold a tax levy hearing and special meeting today at the hospital library starting at noon. The special meeting will follow the tax levy public hearing at about 12:15 to provide a summary of the tax rate hearing. In new business, the board will set the tax rate for the year 2021 before adjourning. The hearing and the special meeting are both open to the public via zoom. Contact Tonya Akers to get information to Zoom the meeting by calling at 573-729-6626, Extension 4005.