Local News – Friday, August 31st, 2018

The Dent County Commissioners met for the regular meeting Thursday morning in the Courthouse. In the road report District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell said that grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Roads 6080 and 6470, plus ditch work would be done and grading would be done on county roads 5600 and 6190. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson said that grading would be done and materials would be added to Dent County Roads 3283 and 2390, while materials would be added to county roads 2010, 2110 and 2070. Larson went on to say that due to the heavy rains on Wednesday patch grading of washouts would be done on county roads 2010, 2110, 4290, 4283, 4040, and 4260. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported that Wednesday he attended the Meramec Regional Emergency Planning Committee meeting in St. James. He said the Committee reviewed the budget and training opportunities for emergency responders. Skiles noted that several training opportunities are available for volunteer fire departments and those departments with interest in finding out what’s available should contact Tammy at (573) 265- 2993. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that her office has an Internal Control and Management Policy ready for review by the Commissioners and that policy will need to be approved after their review and possible modifications are made. At 10:00 bids were opened for a pickup for the Road and Bridge Department. B & B Motors had the low bid of $8,560.00 for a 2009 Dodge D150 Crew Cab 4X4. Purchase of the pickup was approved 3-0. The Courthouse is closed Monday for Labor Day and the next meeting of the Commission will be Thursday morning at 9:00 in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

This will be a busy Labor Day Weekend in Salem with “Ron’s Race for a Reason” starting this morning at the Flat Nasty-Off Road Park to benefit the American Volunteers. Admission to the park is $12.00 for adults with breakfast being served by the volunteers for $7.00. They will also be serving lunch and dinner as well as breakfast through Sunday morning. The big event will be the Cross Country Race for trucks and side-by-sides that will be held Saturday morning at 10:00. There is a $25 entry fee and there will be a 100% payback with the purse already over $3,000. Anyone who would like to enter the race is welcome and the event is open to spectators. The winners of the race will receive their checks from the only living Medal of Honor recipient in Missouri: Donald “Doc” Ballard. Also on Saturday, a snow machine will be making snow at Flat Nasty for children and those young at heart to enjoy. A raffle will be also held for two rifles and a pistol with the proceeds benefiting the American Volunteers. For more information about the raffle, contact Richard LaBrash at 729-3196. Later Saturday afternoon, there will be a Community Welcome for “Doc” Ballard at the Indian Trail Archery on Highway 19 North starting at 5:30 with a short presentation. After a short film presentation, there will be a meet and greet with Doc Ballard with photo opportunities. The MRCA/URA Rodeo will be held Saturday night and Sunday night at The Commons starting at 7:30 each evening sponsored by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. On Saturday evening, there will be a special “Red, White and Blue Salute” to our veterans at the beginning of the rodeo with Medal of Honor Recipient “Doc” Ballard attending. There will be all kinds of vendors at the rodeo with food and merchandise, plus this year you can ride a mechanical bull! You will see barrel racing, team roping, steer wrestling, bareback riding, team roping, calf roping and bull riding! Advance tickets in advance are $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children 5-11. Tickets are aavailable at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and all the local banks. Tickets will also be available at the gate. Also this Saturday and Sunday, Whispering Pines Campground and Horse Farm will be hosting a Hippie Fest! It’s Missouri’s grooviest camping festival! Tickets are only available online at HippieFest.org. And on Monday, Labor Day, enjoy the Salute to the Forestry Industry parade from Highway 32-72 north on McArthur then down to the courthouse square starting at 11:00. See a variety of logging equipment, trucks and more! Following the parade Monday, head out to The Commons for Timber Fun Days where there will be a number of games, exhibits, challenges and competitions starting at 12:00 noon. There is no charge to attend. Make it a fun Labor Day Weekend in Dent County!