Your World Today

Governor Mike Parson announced that Missouri will receive a $152.4 million grant for 75 state airports to help respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the grants to states as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Grant amounts for local Missouri airports ranged from $1,000 to $157,000. These funds can be used for any purpose for which airport revenue could otherwise be used. This means these funds are available for operating costs (salaries, utilities, etc.), and they can also be used for airport development. The Salem Memorial Airport will receive $20,000 from this grant and it requires no match.

The Salem R-80 Board of Education regular monthly meeting will be held tonight at 6:00 at the District Administrative Offices Board Room. After the consent agenda and communications, Superintendent John McColloch will give a budget update, health insurance update, and give information about property purchase. In new business, the board will consider a Vo Ag Electrical bid. The Board will then hear resignations before adjourning and moving into closed session to discuss personnel. The regular April meeting of the Salem R-80 Board of Education is open to the public.

The University of Missouri and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will postpone their annual series of management-intensive grazing schools in 2020 due to safety concerns about COVID-19. Organizers will look at the situation in late May to consider options according to MU Extension forage specialist Craig Roberts. The NRCS and MU Extension specialists hold more than 30 regional grazing schools annually during the forage growing season. This period will intersect with the projected peak of coronavirus spread in Missouri during May and gradual decrease through June and July. Now in its 30th year, the program has become the go-to school for Midwestern forage producers. Controlled grazing results in higher-quality grass, less waste and more pounds of livestock gains per acre. Since the 1980s, MU has helped cattle producers learn better grazing techniques through MU’s pioneering grazing research. Over time, the grazing schools have attracted more partners such as the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Forage and Grassland Council and Missouri Department of Agriculture. The partners contribute research, cost-share incentives and educational outreach to promote the adoption of management- intensive grazing. Missouri has the nation’s third-largest cow-calf herd, the second-largest number of beef producers and the seventh-largest number of dairy farms. Missouri also is the second-largest producer of grass hay. No other Missouri agricultural enterprise covers more acres, generates more real income or engages as many citizens. For more information, contact your local NRCS field office or MU Extension center, or contact the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council at 573-338-1772.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces the kids’ fishing day events scheduled at the state’s trout parks have been cancelled this year amid concerns over the coronavirus. The kids’ fishing day events cancelled include those on May 2nd at Montauk State Park near Salem and Bennett Spring State Park in Lebanon; and those scheduled for May 16th at Roaring River State Park near Cassville and Maramec Spring Park in St. James. In order to protect the public amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, MDC has extended the temporary closures of its facilities and cancellations of all public events and programs through April 30th. Closures include regional offices, department headquarters in Jefferson City, staffed shooting ranges, nature centers, visitor centers, and education centers. MDC has also temporarily cancelled public events and programs, including hunter education classes, nature center programs and events, shooting range programs and events, and landowner workshops. All conservation areas, nature center trails, and boat accesses remain open to the public. Remember, the waiver for not needing a fishing license in the state passed yesterday so you MUST have a current fishing license so all anglers will need to have a fishing permit, unless exempt. Trout anglers will also need required fishing permits but will not need a daily trout tag at the three open trout parks until further notice. Meramec Spring Park currently is closed. Trout anglers fishing other areas around the state, including lakes and streams not at a trout park, need both a fishing permit and trout permit. MDC reminds the public to enjoy responsible recreation by continuing to maintain physical distance in the outdoors and avoid popular areas where people may congregate. Additionally, continue handwashing and sanitizing and travel in a group of 10 people or less.

The Salem Police Department has released reports for April 5th and 6th. On Sunday, April 5th around 1:00 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of a shoplifter. It was reported that a male and a female had shoplifted $33.59 worth of merchandise from the store and left without paying for them. As a result of the investigation both subjects, a 57-year-old Salem male and a 19-year-old Salem female were arrested for shoplifting. The male subject was also found in possession of methamphetamine. Both subjects were released on summons. That same evening at about 7:41, an officer made contact with a 58-year-old man from Salem who had an active warrant for his arrest out of Christian County. The male was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail awaiting extradition on the warrant. On Monday, April 6th at 7:11, an officer was dispatched to the 600 block of south Hickory for a report of stealing out of a motor vehicle. It was reported by the victim that a tan Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 9mm was stolen out of the center console of his vehicle. This investigation is currently still active and ongoing. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information about any investigations.

With school being cancelled for the rest of the year as ordered by Governor Mike Parson, free breakfast and lunches for children age 18 and under are still available at a number of locations through May 15th. These meals are available for ALL children. It doesn’t matter if you attended Salem R-80, any of the rural schools or were home schooled. In town meals can be picked up at Salem Upper Elementary at 1601 Doss Road from 10:30 until 12:00. This location is primarily for those living south of Highway 32/72 and those that live south of the city limits. The second in town location will be the US Foods Parking lot at 502 South Carty Street from 10:30 to 10:50 for those living north of 32/72 and east of Highway 19. The final in town location will be the Southwest Baptist University at 501 South Grand from 11:00 until 11:20 for those that live north of Highway 32/72 and west of Highway 19, as well as those living west and north outside the city limits. Out of town locations will include Junction of P Highway and Dent County Road 5070 from 10:30 until 10:50. This location is primarily for those living on P Highway and the surrounding county roads. The second out of town location will be the Junction of Highway 32/72 and Dent County Road 4235, near the old candy stripped store, from 11:00 until 11:20 for those living east on Highway 32/72 and the surrounding county roads between Highway P and Highway W. The final out of town location will be at the Junction of Highway 32/72 and Highway W from 11:30 until 11:50. This location is mainly for those living east on Highway 32/72 past Highway W, as well as those living on Highway W and the surrounding county roads.

The Salem Police Department has released reports for March 28th through the 30th. On the evening of March 28th at approximately 7:48 an officer was flagged down at the gas pumps at Phil Mart in reference to a disturbance that had taken place. It was reported that there was a verbal argument over another subject damaging the reporting parties’ vehicle. A description of the vehicle was given out and area officers located the vehicle. As a result of the investigation a 38-year-old Salem man was arrested and issued a summons for driving while revoked. The next day, Sunday the 29th, approximately 9:51 in the morning an officer was dispatched to the 600 block of East Coffman for a report of property damage. After meeting with the victim it was reported that a tire on their vehicle had been slashed. This incident is still under investigation. Later that same afternoon at around 12:47 an officer was dispatched to the Ranch Motel for a report of a theft from a motor vehicle. Upon arrival the officer was contacted by the victim and informed that someone had stolen an amplifier out of his trunk. The amplifier was valued at $150. This incident is still under investigation. On Monday the 30th at around 10:37 in the morning an officer was dispatched to the 1200 block of west Rolla Road for a report of property damage. It was reported that someone had damaged a Coca-Cola vending machine. This incident is still under investigation. Later that afternoon at around 4:30 an Officer was dispatched to SMDH to transport a 26-year-old female from Webb City for a 96-hour evaluation. The female was transported without incident to Phelps County Regional Medical Center and released to hospital staff. Then on the morning of Thursday, April 2nd at 7:51 an officer was dispatched to the 500 block of south Warfel for a report of a theft from a motor vehicle. It was reported that a vehicle had been broken into and a debit card and a tire gauge was taken out of the center console. The incident is still under investigation. That same morning at 10:20 an officer was dispatched to Wal-Mart for a report of a stolen purse. It was reported that the purse was left in a shopping cart and the suspects were seen on video surveillance entering the bathroom with the purse. This investigation is still ongoing. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding any investigation.

For now, the University of Missouri Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory remains open. They understand the essential role the lab plays in supporting Missouri’s agricultural industry and as long as they can continue to operate safely, the MU Soil Testing Laboratory in Columbia will continue to accept samples. The MU Soil and Plant Testing Lab has served farmers and homeowners for at least 70 years. Tests provide unbiased, research-based recommendations for efficient nutrient management and improved production. Due to COVID-19, many MU Extension centers are not currently accessible. If your county extension center is closed at this time, you can submit your samples directly to the MU Soil and Plant Testing Lab, 23 Mumford Hall, Columbia, MO 65211. Visit the lab’s website at soilplantlab.missouri.edu for detailed instructions and to generate a UPS shipping label. Include a completed sample information form. Forms are available for download. Just click on the “soil analysis” tab and proceed to the bottom of the page and click on “Forms for Samples.” For questions, visit soilplantlab.missouri.edu or call 573-882-0623.

The Dent County Sheriffs department has released some reports. On Friday, April 10th, a deputy traveled to the Salem Memorial District Hospital for a report of a verbal disturbance in the parking lot. Upon his arrival and investigation, a 31-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having active arrest warrants through Dent County. The woman was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and was incarcerated. That same day a deputy traveled to 404 South Warfel for the report of a domestic disturbance. During the course of the incident, a 41-year-old Salem woman was arrested for having an active arrest warrant through Christian County. The woman was arrested and transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where she later posted bond and was released. Then on Saturday, April 11th, a deputy traveled to a residence in the 7500 block of South Highway 19 for a report of a burglary. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered that a 69-year-old woman was the reported victim. The total value of the property which had been stolen was approximately $8,000.00. This report is still under investigation. Please contact the Dent County Sheriffs office at 729-3241 if you have any information on these investigations.

The Dent Commissioners met Monday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies received by the county in April. It showed that in 2019, the General Revenue sales tax was $105,219.98 while this year the county received $80,783.40. That is a $24,436.64 decrease comparing April 2020 and April 2019. Year-to-date, the county has received $22,927.19 less than for this time last year in General Revenue. The Road and Bridge Department received $36,363.00 this April while last year during April the county received $48,661.70. That is reduction of $12,298.70 for the month and that fund is down year-to-date by over $9,240.28 which is a 5.94% reduction. Each jail fund received $72,690.37 from the collections in April, but that month-to-date total for each fund is down $24,534.21 and year-to-date, each fund is $17,617.17 less than last year. The money received due to the Secure Rural Schools Act from the National Forest came to $208,935.62. The Road and Bridge Fund will receive 25% of that amount which comes to $52,233.91. The other 75% of the funds will be disbursed to school districts with Salem R-80 receiving $38,329.24; Bunker R-3 will get $60,643.55; Oak Hill R-1 will receive $31,653.75; the Iron County C-4 school will get $24,745.20 and Northwood R-4 will receive $1,331.97. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk reported collections during the month of March came to $143,865.78 and that is down from the March 2019 collection report. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell said crews would be out checking roads for downed tree and limbs and possibly some washouts. Purcell stated that some grading or patch grading would occur on Dent County Road 5150 and roads in the 2400’s north of Highway 32, and brush was to be cut on county roads 5510 and 6255. Purcell stated that the transmission went out on the Cat grader that serves the Bunker area. They are looking for a loaner to replace the Cat grader while that one is being repaired. Purcell also reported on the 2% Dent County Tourism tax income for the month of March and it was down $804.06 from the March figure of last year. Commissioner Gary Larson reported grading would be done on Dent County Roads 3370 and 4030 while materials would be added and grading done on county road 2070. Larson said two men were working on dump truck #115 and then they would be hauling rock. Preisidng Commissioner Darrell Skiles stated he has been attending numerous COVID-19 meetings with Dent County Health Director Kendra Mobray and Dent County Emergency Director Brad Nash about the virus. Skiles said Dent County still does not have a reported case. He does say that with the “stay at home” order, the economic impact the county faces will be tremendous and he is asking every office holder to be overly conservative in their spending. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said absentee voting continues until June 1st for the June 2nd Municipal election. She said the last day to mail out an absentee ballot will be May 20th. She said the county and state primary will be held on August 4th. She mentioned that she balanced with the treasurer on all accounts for the month of March. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday, April 20th at the courthouse at 9:00 in the morning and the meeting is open to the public.

University of Missouri Extension is offering online town hall meetings led by agronomy, livestock and horticulture specialists. State and regional extension specialists will hold the weekly town hall question-and-answer sessions on Wednesdays. The times and topics are 11:00 in the morning until noon for home horticulture; from noon until 1:00 for commercial horticulture; from 1:30 to 2:30 in the afternoon for forages and livestock; and from 2:30 to 3:30 PM for field crops. The sessions will be via the Zoom teleconferencing system. Registration is required to receive email with the Zoom link and instructions. Register and submit questions at ipm.missouri.edu/TownHalls.

Time is running out to get a variety of low cost native tree and shrub seedlings from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking. Right now they are offering residents a variety of those low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, and wildlife food and cover. Orders are being accepted through TOMORROW! The Department of Conservation has extended the seedling shipping time frame through the end of May. According to MDC, the shipping season typically winds down in early May after nursery staff has shipped millions of seedlings to schools, landowners, and MDC staff for planting all over the state. Since the precautionary measures were put in place to decrease the spread of COVID-19, the nursery has been closed to the public and they have plenty of seedlings left. Order your seedlings online: mdc.mo.gov/seedlings, or fax an order form to 573-674-4047. Contact the nursery at 674-3229 or email them for an order form: StateForestNursery@mdc.mo.gov. You can take a virtual tour of the nursery are available at short.mdc.mo.gov/Zey.

The Missouri Department of Revenue wants the public to know that the new REAL ID compliant driver’s license and ID cards are now available. The Department began offering REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards last year in March. Under Missouri law, applying for a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card is optional. Effective this October 1st, residents of every U.S. state and territory will be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card, or another form of ID accepted by the Transportation Security Administration, to board federally regulated domestic flights. Individuals will also be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card, or another form of acceptable ID, to access federal facilities, including military bases and federal courthouses, and to enter nuclear power plants. “REAL ID” comes from the REAL ID Act of 2005, a federal law that focused on fraud protection, anti-terrorism, and driver licenses and non-driver ID card security. The REAL ID Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses and ID cards and prohibits federal agencies from accepting for official purposes driver licenses and ID cards from states that do not meet these standards. You can apply for your REAL ID at the Salem License office next week when they reopen on Monday, April 20th. For more information, visit
dor.mo.gov/drivers/real-id-information.