Your World Today

Intercounty Electric held their annual Junior Essay Contest during the month of February where high school juniors wrote a 250 to 500 word essay about a topic chosen by Intercounty. In the past, the top scoring students from each school would win a trip to Washington DC while the second and third place students would receive a trip to Jefferson City. Because of the concerns with COVID, the Intercounty Electric Board of Directors elected to go with a $2,000 scholarship for the students who came in 1st place from their school, and $500 scholarships for those students who took 2nd and 3rd place. The first place winners from each school in our area included Sierra Rusco from Salem, Winter Murray from Licking, Mallory Moats from Rolla and Allana Chitwood from St. James. Students who came in second and third place from the area schools included Andrea Bray and Hailey Ballwin from Salem; Krysta Joyner and Cadrian Hutsell from Licking, Simon Yoakum IV and Isabell Staley from Rolla and Kira Gordon and Elysia Frayer from St. James. Congratulations to all these students who were chosen as the top three essays at their school, and Intercounty Electric wanted to thank all the students that wrote and submitted an essay in the contest.

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri thank the thousands of Missouri deer hunters who donated 238,920 pounds of venison to the state’s “Share the Harvest” program this past deer season, including 4,787 whole deer. They also want to thank the participating meat processors throughout the state who grind the donated deer meat into ready-to-use packages, and the many sponsors who financially support the program. Meat-processing fees are covered entirely or in part by numerous local sponsors, along with statewide sponsors that include Shelter Insurance, Bass Pro Shops, Missouri Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation, Missouri Food Banks Association, and Missouri Department of Conservation. Since the “Share the Harvest” program was started in 1992, it has provided more than 4.5 million pounds of lean, healthy venison to help feed hungry Missourians, including this past season’s donations. In 2019, hunters donated 282,935 pounds of venison to “Share the Harvest.” During the past season, some meat processors were unable to take donated venison due to an increase in the processing of domestic beef and pork. The donated deer meat goes to local food banks and food pantries to help feed hungry Missourians all around the state. To get “Share the Harvest” venison, contact local food banks or food pantries.

The Salem Police Department has released some reports. Officers with the Salem Police Department conducted 42 traffic stops for various traffic violations with 7 resulting in a summons or arrest from the period of March 27th through April 9th. Some of the reports include one from Saturday, March 27th near 8:00 in the morning as officers responded to the 100 block of South Hickory in an attempt to serve a warrant. Officers were trying to locate a male subject that had an active warrant for his arrest. Contact was made at the address and as a result, a 70-year-old Salem man was arrested and incarcerated on his warrants. On Tuesday, March 30th shortly after 10:00 that night, an officer took a report of property damage. It was reported that a 2005 Chevrolet Impala had been broken into and approximately $10 was taken out of the car while it was parked near the intersection of Babb Lane and Roosevelt Streets. This report is currently still under investigation. On Tuesday, April 6th just after noon, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of shoplifting. It was reported that two subjects had stolen items from the store. Contact was made on a subsequent traffic stop with the pair. As a result, a 50-year-old Salem woman and a 43-year-old Salem man were arrested and issued a summons to appear in court for shoplifting. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

The City of Salem Public Water Supply Annual Water Quality Report has been released and there were no violations that occurred for the calendar year 2020. All levels of contaminants found were lower than required by government regulations. If you would like to see the City of Salem Annual Water Quality Report, a copy can be found at the City of Salem Administration Building at 4th and Iron Streets, at the Water Department Office or at the KSMO Radio studios.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released some reports for the week of April 3rd through the 8th. According to the sheriff’s department, a deputy conducted a traffic stop On Roosevelt and Main Street on Saturday, April 3rd. During the traffic stop, a 27-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended. He was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. Later that same day, a deputy responded to Dent County Road 4160 for a report of a stranded motorist. During the course of the incident, a 52-year-old Salem man was arrested for having an active arrest warrant through Salem Police Department. Also arrested during the incident was a 32-year-old Salem man for having active arrest warrants through the Ray County Sherriff’s Department and Licking Police Department. Both men were transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. Also on April 3rd, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 2500 block of Highway 68. During the traffic stop, a 30-year-old Cook Station woman was arrested for an arrest warrant through the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office. The woman was transported to the Dent County Jail and incarcerated. On April 7th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Dent County Road 6190. During the traffic stop, a 23-year-old Jadwin woman was arrested for operating a motor vehicle on a highway without a valid license, a 1st offense. She was transported to the Dent County Jail where she was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. On Thursday, April 8th, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Route W and Route EE. During the course of the traffic stop, a 26-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active arrest warrant through Dent County. She was transported to the Dent County Jail where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. If anyone has any information regarding an investigation, please call the Dent County Sheriff’s Department at 729-3241.

A one vehicle accident happened late Monday afternoon just before 5:15 in Phelps County on Phelps County Road 7480 about eight miles southwest of Rolla. According to the report from the highway patrol, a 2017 Ford Edge being driven by 55-year-old Jeri Boulware of Rolla traveled off the right side of the roadway and partially into a ditch. The vehicle then struck a driveway and a mailbox then overturned. The Ford then re-entered the roadway before traveling off the right side of the roadway before coming to a rest on its wheels. The driver was wearing a safety restraint according to the report. She suffered minor injuries and chose to seek her own medical treatment. The Ford had extensive damage and was towed from the scene by Lucas Towing.

The Salem FFA Alumni will be conducting their 11th Annual Scholarship Fund Labor and Dessert Auction this Friday evening at 6:30. The auction will be conducted at the Smith Valley Angus Barn on Route HH in Salem. All the proceeds will go toward scholarships for Salem FFA members. A meal will be served at 5:30 at no charge to auction supporters. Salem FFA Chapter members will be providing 4, 6 or 8 hours of labor of various types ranging from farm labor to cooking, cleaning, gardening, lawn work and more. There will be delicious homemade pies, cakes, pastries and other desserts auction as well. Come out and support the Salem FFA Alumni Scholarship Fund tonight. For more information, call 739-2016 or 729-7990, extension 2.

Salem Memorial District Hospital and the Dent County Health Center will hold a mass vaccination event for COVID-19 to include ALL Missouri residents over the age of 16 at the Dent County Fire Station this Friday. The booster vaccine being held at the same location on Friday, May 7th. Please go to the Dent County Health Center or Salem Memorial District Hospital Facebook page for more information and how to register for this event. There is also a registration link on the Salem Memorial District Hospital website at SMDH.net.

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in some sales tax monies received by the county on Thursday, but only in two of the five funds. The General Revenue Fund received $17,855.87 and the Law Enforcement Sales Tax received $17,853.22. Last year, each of those funds received over $80,783. Skiles did say that attorney Travis Elliott has been in touch with the general counsel of the Missouri Department of Revenue and they indicated they were not aware of the sales tax withholding situation but would investigate the matter. Williams checked with the department about monies for the other three funds but there has been no response from them. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray stated grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5410, 5420 and 6470. He said two men were going to Springfield to get oil for chip and seal repair. Mobray went on to say a crew would be checking the chip and seal roads to determine which ones would receive an overlay this year. Mobray also reported on the diesel fuel bids taken last week and MFA Oil was lowest bid at $1.9754 per gallon. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported materials would be added and grading done on Dent County Roads 3120 and 4280 while only grading would be done on county road 4290. He also said brush would be cut on county roads 2515 and 2610. Larson also recommended and the commission unanimously approved putting out bids for prices to purchase culverts and grader blades that will be due in the clerk’s office by 10:00 on Monday, May 3rd. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles said at the Transportation Advisory Committee meeting last Thursday, MoDOT announced the highway and transportation commission approved scoping for a new bridge to be built on Route TT at Sligo to replace the low water crossing. He also said the STIP plan shows the bridge on Highway 19 at Gladden is to be replaced in 2023. Overall, Skiles said there were nine projects in the Meramec Regional Planning Commission area in the STIP program. Skiles said the discussion at the MRPC Board meeting dealt with the American Rescue Plan, but everything discussed was just speculation. He wanted to congratulate the City of Salem receiving a $384,000 TAP grant to improve the sidewalks and lighting on 4th Street in downtown Salem. Skiles said he would be in Jefferson City Wednesday to testify on county commission priorities. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with the collector and assessor on all collections, add-ons and abatements for the month of March, and that she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for March. At the last meeting, the commissioners unanimously agreed to award a proposal from Anderson and Associates to do outside work on the courthouse at a cost of $7,700 plus lift rental expenses. Commissioner Skiles said there will be no commission meeting on Monday, April 19th due to a County Commissioners meeting. The commissioners may call a special meeting that week if there is business that need to be addressed.

Missouri Department of Transportation crews will be making pavement repairs on Highway 19 in Crawford County this week. MoDOT crews will be removing the top layer of pavement in order to apply a new driving surface on Highway 19 between Highway 8 and Cuba City Limits. Work is scheduled to take place today through Thursday, April 22nd. One lane will be closed between 6:00 in the morning and 4:30 in the afternoon each day. Flaggers will be in place to guide motorist through the work area. Drivers are encouraged to slow down through work zones, obey all traffic signs and watch for workers on the road. Some delays are possible and MoDOT appreciates the patience of travelers while the work take place. This work is weather permitting and could be delayed. For more information and updates about this project or other transportation-related matters, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/central. You can also follow the MoDOT Central Missouri District on Facebook and Twitter for project updates.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that young turkey hunters in Missouri harvested 2,771 birds over the past youth weekend held April 10th and 11th. Top harvest counties were Miller with 73 birds checked, Texas with 71, and Callaway with 68. Young hunters checked 2,712 turkeys during the 2020 spring youth weekend. The regular spring turkey season runs April 19th through May 9th. For more information on spring turkey hunting in Missouri, visit huntfish.mdc.mo.gov.