Your World Today

The Salem Public Library has been awarded a tech grant for $11,490.00, plus the Friends of the Library have donated $557.00. These funds will be used to replace computers, plus purchase licenses for Microsoft Office and DeepFreeze.

The Dent County Fire Protection District Board met last Tuesday evening at the Dent County Firehouse. In the consent agenda, the financial report was reviewed showing an ending balance of $223,829.17. Bills, payments and statements were reviewed and approved as was the budget. In the Calendar review, the fire district attended Serendipity Thursday at the Upper Elementary School, had a class from William Lynch Elementary School tour the firehouse on Friday, and be expecting the new MSA gear this Tuesday. Air Evac approached Chief Floyd to have September 28th set aside for “Kids Safety Day” at the department. In the April monthly reimbursement report, it showed the fire department responded to 23 calls for the month of April with a total of 128 for the year. Seventeen of the calls in April were to fires which represent 73.91% of the calls to the department. The department also responded to one each of a smoke investigation, Haz-Mat call, medical, and to an traffic accident. Two calls were listed as other. The seventeen fire calls were further broken down represented five building fires, five forest or woodlands fire, 3 brush or grass fires, and two off road vehicle or heavy equipment fires, one outside trash or rubbish fire, and one passenger vehicle fire. In old business, the board heard the two bids received for lawn care and went with the bid from Mr. Lundy of $80. The other bid was from the Sheltered Workshop. The board tabled any decision until the next meeting on the repair, sealing and restriping of the parking lot; and the tower lease information is still on hold awaiting further information from the tower company. In new business, the board approved to allow President Craig Smith and Treasurer Dave Wells sign a lease/purchase agreement from Town and Country Bank for the purchase of new SCBA equipment and a new truck for $281,642.58. The agreement was then signed. The review of the agenda format was discussed and the board decided the Calendar review could be removed from the consent agenda and covered in the Chief’s report. Nominations were then held and after some discussion, a motion was made to close nominations and hold the election of the board officers. Mike Godi was elected president. Dave Wells as Secretary/Treasurer and budget officer, and Chief Dennis Floyd as the Custodian of Records. Chief Floyd then gave his report to the board and noted that the new truck will have to have radios installed to be able to talk with other trucks and also other emergency agencies. The cost would be around $7,064.37 to add the new radios. This will go out for more bids and Chief Floyd will check out other avenues of obtaining the radios. Floyd also said that the department will need some new tools for the new truck and it is in his budget for the tools. The board agreed for him to go ahead with the small tool purchases but to hold off on any large purchases. The board then voted to go into closed session to interview and approve Aaron Tilley as a new firefighter for the department. After returning to open session, the date for the next meeting was set for Tuesday, June 11th at the Fire Station at 6:00 PM.

Those interested in hunting Elk this fall need to apply before May 31st. The Department of Conservation will require a $10 application fee for elk-permit applicants. Those selected will then be eligible to buy a permit at a cost of $50. All elk-hunting permits, including those allocated to qualifying area landowners, can be used in Carter, Reynolds, and Shannon counties, except the refuge portion of Peck Ranch Conservation Area. The archery portion will run October 19th through 27th and the firearms portion will run December 14th through 22nd. The allowed hunting methods for each elk season portion will be the same as for deer hunting. The permits will allow for the harvest of one bull elk with at least one antler being six inches or greater in length. For more information on elk and elk hunting in Missouri, visit mdc.mo.gov/elkhunting. Apply for the elk-permit random drawing now through 31st online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, through MDC’s free MO Hunting app, through a permit vendor, or by calling 1-800-392-4115. Results of the elk-permit random drawing will be available online by July 1st. Missouri hunters harvested one bull elk during the 2023 archery portion and two during the 2023 firearms portion.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Democratic Candidate for the 120th seat in the House of Representatives Jen Tracy, addressed a question by Gary Polk about how much money the new sales tax on marijuana would bring the county. She answered by saying in Crawford County they just opened up their first dispensary and there is no information that she can provide. Also in attendance was Jason Greene from Pioneer Forest who came by to let the commission know that Pioneer Forest would be applying for a Forest Legacy Grant for their timbered lands. He said they are the largest private land owner in Missouri as they have land in six counties. The grants would allow the Pioneer Forest to protect private forests through conservation easements or land purchases that would maintain a multitude of public benefits including the opportunities for people to hunt, fish, and camp; provide for a clean and abundant drinking water source; maintain habitat for fish and wildlife, and continue the production and sale of timber, fuel wood, and other forest products. Public access to Pioneer Forest will be protected where it currently exists. Greene said the grant will help their ecology programs and trail systems by providing funding based on the value of the amount of acres in the Pioneer Forest. He said they will be applying for the grant within a week and it could take a year or two to be awarded. If accepted for the grant, Pioneer Forest would work with the Department of Conservation on the preservation of the forests. In the road reports, both district commissioners said workers were off Thursday after being on call Wednesday for the anticipated storms. The workers were to be off Wednesday for Truman’s Birthday. Both district commissioners said they had not received any calls for storm damage. Commissioner Wes Mobray said he would be on a conference call with the MoDOT Area Supervisor to discuss repairs to the approaches to the county roads from the state highways that are not being maintained. He said he will also discuss with him the problem of semi-truck and trailers using county roads to go to the Royal Oak Charcoal plant, destroying gravel as well as chip and seal roads. The county has been asking for signage for “No Truck Traffic” from the state and they say they can’t do that. Mobray plans on showing pictures of a semi in the middle of the front yard of a resident on Route JJ by the plant. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson said he met with the insurance claims adjuster to go over the county buildings. Larson said there was shingle damage to courthouse roof and rail damage to the jail. He said the adjuster was also going to check the Annex and Extension building to check for damage. The county has a $2,500 deductible for damages. Larson said he expected to receive a list of the issues found from the adjuster soon. Larson also said he was named the President of the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Board at their last meeting. Dent County Collector Shannon VanKirk brought in the April turnover for the county and said it totaled $127,201.56 which is just about the same as it was last year. The next meeting of the commission will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and Healthy Dent County are teaming up to host a Second Chance Job Fair from 10:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon on May 22nd at the Community Center at the Armory located at 1200 W. Rolla Street in Salem. The job fair focuses on employers willing to hire individuals who are justice involved or in recovery from substance-use-disorder. Employers attending include Walmart, Royal Oak and Eagle Stop, with other employers still reserving spaces to attend. The Missouri Job Center, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health and Invent Yourself, LLC will also be at the event to provide resources to potential employees. Samantha Sherman, the MRPC Senior Community Development Specialist, said that Missouri is facing a workforce shortage, and there is an untapped population with the potential to help solve this issue, if employers are willing to hire those who have been involved in the justice system or those who are in recovery. If they can connect employers with these individuals, not only does it help the employers find the labor their companies need, but we are helping these individuals find steady employment and, in some cases, breaking the cycle and stigma associated with substance-use-disorder or past justice involvement. This event is open to the public. Attendees will be eligible to win a door prize. This project is funded through a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, totaling $1,000,000 awarded to MRPC in 2021. Interested employers and prospective job candidates needing information, can contact Sherman or MRPC Community Development Assistant Ann Feeler at 573-265-2993 or via email at ssherman@meramecregion.org and afeeler@meramecregion.org, respectively.

An accident happened in Phelps County on Highway 63 at Phelps County Road 6220 Thursday morning at 9:16. According to the highway patrol report, a 2013 Jeep Wrangler driven northbound by 27-year-old Cordell Dukes of Edgar Springs, traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a guardrail and overturned. Dukes suffered minor injuries and was transported by the Phelps Health EMS to Phelps Health. Dukes was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Jeep was totaled and removed from the scene by D&D Towing.