Local News – Friday, February 10th, 2023
The Dent County Commissioners met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles was not able to attend. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley appointed District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson as the temporary Presiding Commissioner. In the road report, both Commissioners Wes Mobray and Larson said crews were out checking for washouts as well as limbs and trees blown down due to the high winds. Mobray said Great Rivers Engineering would be calling the commission to provide an update on the FLAP projects going on in the county. Clerk Angie Curley said absentee voting for the April 4th election will begin February 21st. Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams brought in her report on the sales tax monies received in February from the Department of Revenue. She said the General Revenue Fund and the Dent County LEST Fund each received $91,226.82 this month which is $5,292.57 more than the 2022 figure of $85,934.25 for February. Year-to-date, those funds are each up $17,902.73. In the Road and Bridge Fund, the county received $41,600.72 while last February the county took in $35,271.11. That difference was $6,329.61 and year-to-date, the Road and Bridge Fund is up $10,658.45 over 2022. In the two jail funds, the trust fund and operating fund, revenues received from the state this month came in at cost is $20 for the adult and $5.00 for each $83,201.55 and that is $12,722.03 more than February of 2022, and year-to-date each fund is up $21,441.21. The courthouse will be closed on Monday so the next commissioner meeting will be held on Thursday, February 16th at 9:00 at the courthouse and it will be open to the public.
The Salem Area Arts Council will hold a Snowman Valentine Parent/Child Paint Party this Saturday afternoon from 1:00 to 3:00 at the Creative Arts Center. Patty Burmeister will guide you step-by-step through the creation of the painting. You will have fun learning to paint shades of colors and adding details to your cute snowman. All the supplies are provided and the child. To sign up, call or text 573-247-0651, or go online at salemcommunitybetterment.com and look under programs for the Salem Creative Arts Center.
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways has openings for volunteer Camp Hosts at the scenic Alley Spring campground from mid-July to September 2023 and Round Spring campground for the entire 2023 Summer Season. These volunteer positions are eligible for meal reimbursement of up to $10 per day per person for up to two people per location. Camp Hosts work to assist Rangers with general campground responsibilities as well as assisting campers. Camp Hosts should enjoy being in contact with people and be able to greet the public in a friendly, helpful, and professional manner. A resume is required. For more information on this opportunity, please go to volunteer.gov and type in either Alley Spring or Round Spring.
The Missouri Department of Transportation invites Missouri students in grades K-8 to help fight litter in Missouri by participating in the 2023 “Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter-Free” trash-can-decorating contest. The contest is part of MoDOT’s annual “No MOre Trash!” statewide litter campaign, which is held in April. The contest encourages school aged kids to join in the fight against litter by decorating a large trash can with the “No MOre Trash!” logo and a litter prevention message using a variety of creative materials. Schools, or home school programs, may submit one trash can entry in each competition category: grades K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. Entries are judged based on creativity, adherence to the contest rules and effective use of the theme and logo. First-place winners from each competition category receive $200 awarded to the sponsoring schools. All first-place winners are then eligible for a grand prize of $600 and a trophy awarded to the sponsoring school. There is no entry fee for the contest. Participating school groups must submit a completed entry form online with up to three photos and a release form by March 17. Contest rules, entry forms, release forms, logos, past winners and educational information can also be found at modot.org/trash-can-contest.
The Missouri Department of Conservation wants to remind fisherman that the last day of the Catch and Release Season at Montauk State Park will be Monday, February 13th. The second Monday of February every year marks the end of the winter Catch-and-Release season. No fishing will be allowed at the park until the opening day of Trout Season which will be on March 1st. For more information on fishing of all types in Missouri as well as fishing licenses, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website at mdc.mo.gov.