Local News – Friday, August 3rd, 2018

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the Dent County Courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was attending the CCAM Board meeting in Jefferson City. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley Appointed District One Commissioner Dennis Purcell to serve as Acting Presiding Commissioner. In the road report Purcell said that he had two men out and that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 5400 and 6410, while patch grading would be done on county road 6610. He went on to say that brush would be cut on county road 2400 and a man was using UPM to patch potholes on county road 6300, plus a man was picking up an old TV and old tires that were dumped on county road 2400. District Two Commissioner Gary Larson said that grading would be done on Dent County Roads 4300 and 2360, plus brush would be cut on county road 4430. He also reported that materials would be added to Dent County Roads 2360 and 2200 and that two hydraulic lines were being replaced on the backhoe. Larson thanked Commissioner Purcell for loaning his entire crew to District Two on Wednesday as they poured 56 yards of concrete for the low water crossing on Dent County Road 5300. He said both crews worked hard to complete the work and he really appreciated the work of the Road and Bridge Department crews. Larson said county road 5300 will remain closed to through traffic until late Wednesday or early Thursday to allow the concrete to completely set up. Curley reminded voters that absentee voting continues through Monday and that her office will be open for absentee voting Saturday from 8:00 until noon. She added that bills were being approved by the commissioners for payment. The next meeting of the Commissioners will be Monday morning in the Courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

Steve Setzer, of Dillard, Missouri, is a 2018 inductee into the Metal and Nonmetal (MNM) National Mine Rescue Hall of Fame. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recognized Setzer’s more than 30 years of service as a skilled mine rescuer for The Doe Run Company at the hall of fame banquet on July 26 in Lexington, Kentucky. Setzer serves as an electrician at Doe Run’s Brushy Creek Mine. Serving over 30 years with Doe Run’s Maroon mine rescue team, Setzer has participated in more than 54 regional contests and 13 national contests. He led the team to two National Championship titles in 2010 and 2014 as captain. Doe Run’s mine rescue teams participate in competitions to enhance the team’s skills through realistic mine rescue challenges and prepare them to aid fellow employees during a real mine emergency. Team members participate in training for at least eight hours per month to keep their skills sharp. Since beginning his mining career with Doe Run in 1978, Setzer has held several roles on the mine rescue team, including gas man, co-captain, first aid, captain and trainer. He has been captain for Doe Run’s Maroon team for 17 years and the team trainer for seven years. In 2010, Setzer was one of the team members who evacuated employees when a truck fire broke out underground. He and the other rescuers involved received a Certificate of Honor from Washington, D.C., at the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association annual meeting for their exceptional work during this real emergency. The MNM National Mine Rescue Hall of Fame honors exceptional individuals who stand out in the unique and challenging field of mine rescue through their accomplishments and commitments. In 2016, Denny Dickerson, who retired from Doe Run’s Buick Mine, was inducted into the National Mine Rescue Hall of Fame.

The Salem Community Garden is a place for Dent County residents to grow and harvest healthy food for their families, friends or to donate to those in need. A Summer Gardening Workshops hosted by Master Gardener Larry Galloway will take place this summer on Monday, August 6, from 6:30 – 7:30 PM. Come out to learn some new gardening techniques, tour the garden and visit with other gardeners! The public is invited to attend. There is no cost At this workshop, you can learn about Worm composting in the garden: Larry will build an in-garden vermicomposting system to build garden soil with compost and worms. The Salem Community Garden began in 2009, and is a cooperative effort of the University of Missouri Extension, Salem United Methodist Church, local organizations, and citizens. Donations of tools, seeds or other gardening resources are appreciated, and are tax-exempt. PLEASE REMEMBER: This is a community garden because anyone is welcome to participate and sign up for a plot, but The garden is not open for harvesting by the public. The gardeners put in hard work at their plots and their benefit is fresh healthy food. Please respect their efforts and do not pick food from the garden unless it is from a plot of your own. If you'd like to join, call the Call Dent County Extension office at 573-729-3196.